505 Comments for Dever State School

The chicken soup was delicious but you would have been wise to stay away from the fish.
Nurse Fronsenna was nice.

Yes you are correct about the tunnel system BTDTIHTTS. The tunnels excluded those buildings. Emilia, you too are also correct, the security staff there are just trying very hard to do their jobs. If you talk to them, you'll find that they are basically a decent lot and will treat you nice as long as you show some respect.

The name of the movie was
SURROGATES starring Bruce Willis, & Vhing Rhyames.

Rita, as you stated " the people that left were never 'normal' again?" I hate to tell you this, but in most cases, the people that left there were most likely never quite 'normal' to begin with. Back in the '50's and '60's it was considered "normal" to put your mentally disabled child in schools like this...as harsh as that may sound... but it really was what was considered best for all concerned. Many Dr's advised parents of newborn retarded children of this option, out of concern for both parents and the children involved. You have to remember that back in those dark days people did not have the options readily available to them for in home care, as we do now. it would create a very real hardship on most couples and their families, and this was the next best thing. if families could have afforded to keep their children, many probably would have. I worked in this particular school for 18 years, and am still working for the state in a group home for a total of 25 years. All of my clients were loved and cared for like they were family by many devoted staff over the years. It may have once seemed like a "cold place" but by the time I got there in 1985, it was transformed and the " bad seed " staff were generally weeded out.

Thank you for your comments Thad! Im sooo glad that there are still those who are well suited for their jobs and who go to work with caring and loving hearts!

lol emilia

to unknown: some are very aware of their surroundings and their abilities/disabilities, but there are those that do not have the ability to acknowledge in any way, that they are aware... they cannot walk,talk, or express many emotions. there are differing levels mental retardation.I have worked in this field for 25 years (originating at this particular School).
The clients that I took care of which happened to be total care ( wheelchair bound, diapered) had to be cared for as you would care for infants... In very rare cases some clients did get abused by some staff and even other clients over the years. I will tell you honestly, that all of the clients in my building were cared for and loved by many of the staff who in many cases became the only family that these people ever knew. Some very fortunate clients had families that were very involved ...but the majority DID NOT.
I will also say that in many cases the clients lost more than they gained by this place being closed and being forced into the community. Here they had 24-7 nursing,security & just more freedom than they do now. In the community, while their houses are more pleasing to the eye, they do not have skilled certified nurses in most homes 24-7and there are deficiencies in general. they do not have the rec therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric therapy readily available to them that they had at the school. Personally, I think that they would have been better off demolishing the buildings on grounds and put either 8 or 4 person housing in their place and kept the staffing that they had.

*cooking purposes, not laundry...lol

I started working in this building back in 1985,this was my first real job after graduating High School I and still work for the state now, some 25 years later. These were used for all of the purposes mentioned above. Yes the staff that I had the pleasure to work with back then were awesome and the food was of exceptional quality. I feel that it is a shame what has been allowed to happen to the buildings and the property as a whole. Some of the buildings as well as the bandstand area were used as sets for the movie " The Surrogates " starring Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. the exterior of the kitchen building was made to look like an abandoned elementary school. In the movie,they were part of the dread community. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to take pictures of the buildings as they appeared in the movie and got to actually talk to Bruce Willis as well. I agree with Jo Q & nanadoone totally... it wasn't a prison setting, and you had to work there to "get it".

hey great pictures i grew up not far from there. me and my friends spent alot of time in that area. mostly causing trouble lol. those were great days thanks again for the pictures

the security there are very nice and are just trying very hard to do their jobs! anyone who messes with them is just an asshole.

POWs of ww2 and no criminally insane! do a little bit of research before assuming.

none of the dormitories, or as a matter of fact most of the buildings are original to the pow camp! they were all specially built for the school.

blood? people, please! this is way up inside a stairwell inside the front of one of the buildings. Although these places were considered to be inhumane, there is a difference between reality and horror movies.

oh and one more thing - some people here have referred to this place as an insane asylum and that isn't true. it was a school for the mentally handicapped, not for the mentally ill. there is a big difference and i think it is an extremely important one to recognize.